Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been named as his father's successor. Born in Mashhad in 1969, Mojtaba Khamenei plays a commanding role in the Office of the Supreme Leader.
5 Key Facts On Iran's Next Potential Supreme Leader
1. Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the 85-year-old leader, was reportedly chosen during a secret meeting of the Assembly of Experts on September 26. The decision was taken during a secretive meeting of the Assembly of Experts, according to Iran International, which was cited by Israeli media outlet Ynet News.
2. The secret meeting which was held on September 26, was reportedly convened at the request of the 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who is said to be facing severe health issues. Members of the 60-member assembly allegedly faced intense pressure, including threats from Khamenei and his representatives, to reach a unanimous decision.
3. Mojtaba Khamenei’s prominence within the regime has become increasingly apparent over the past two years. Although he has made few public appearances, he is noted for his alleged involvement in suppressing the 2009 post-election protests. Earlier in 2021, Khamenei was bestowed the title of Ayatollah, meeting the constitutional criteria for becoming Supreme Leader.
4. Mojtaba first caught public attention during the 2005 elections. Over time, he has enhanced his network of political figures which placed him as a power broker for his father. During elections, Mehdi Karroubi alleged that Khamenei had used these connections to influence the outcome in Ahmadinejad’s favor.
5. According to the Iran International report, the decision was deliberately kept secret to prevent public backlash. "The assembly resolved to maintain maximum secrecy over the decision due to fears of widespread public protests," the report stated.